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Was given a shotgun

Mike

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Up Nort
I was given a 12 ga by my wife's mom's cousin. It belong to his brother who passed away two years ago. It's a Sear's Roebuck Ranger. Any info?
 

Beentown

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Is this a 16 gauge bolt? Had one a long time ago that I sold. I think I let it go for $100. It was a bit rough. I know Numrichs carried parts for it if you need it.
 

Mike

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Up Nort
OK, I did a bit more looking. It was made by Steven's and the Sear's number is 101.25. It's a 12 gauge pump.
 

Mike

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Some pics. The pawn shop offered him $25 bucks so he gave it to me instead. :smiley_coolpeace:
 

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Ohiosam

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That is a 520. It's a Browning design so it's a good gun, they just aren't real valuable. Some were made as trench guns for use in WWI. It is a cool looking gun and appears well made. Enjoy it!
 

Ohiosam

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Not sure of the age, a couple of books I rely on for info were not much help. Browning's patent for it is earlier then the Colt 1911's patent but who knows when it went into production. The Stevens 620 which is an updated version without the hump was produced from 1927-1953. Checkering on the pistol grip and forend would have been somewhat unusual prior to WWII but not impossible. Field grade Winchesters and Remingtons didn't have checkered PG stocks before WWII. Ithaca did but Ithaca is special:biggrin: 520's were made during WWII for the army but what I read made it sound like old machinery was brought back on line to meet wartime demand. If I had to guess Savage (which owned Stevens) made some after the war for Sears but that is entirely speculative.
 

Ohiosam

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Looks like there is some life left in that thing! Crazy to think about Sears selling guns!!!

I bought my first shotgun at J.C.Pennys in '79, an Ithaca 37. I remember my dad buying a shotgun at Woolworths too. I used to love looking at the guns on the racks at Sears in the sporting good dept, Montgomery Wards sold them too as did Kmart.
 

COB-TY

Retired to the happy hunting grounds above.
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Looks like there is some life left in that thing! Crazy to think about Sears selling guns!!!

Jesse years and years ago you could order guns through the Sears catalog. My first shotgun, J. C. Higgins bolt action 20 GA., came via Sears catalog sales. I was thirteen and the was in 1953. This have certainly changed in that respect.

As to the 12 Ga., if it's as good as my 20 Ga. you have a great ole gun!
 

Mike

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Up Nort
What would you guys do in terms of cleaning it? Leave it alone or take it apart and clean it. It seems to function fine as is.
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
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North Carolina
What would you guys do in terms of cleaning it? Leave it alone or take it apart and clean it. It seems to function fine as is.

Yeah, give it a good cleaning and oiling..... Never know what it's been through.....
 

bowhunter1023

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Yeah, give it a good cleaning and oiling..... Never know what it's been through.....

Yep...

I remember hearing about snagging guns at Monty Wards and Sears, but those stores had changed drastically by the time I became familiar with them. Same for Pennys. What a great time in America that was!!!
 

Ohiosam

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What would you guys do in terms of cleaning it? Leave it alone or take it apart and clean it. It seems to function fine as is.

If you can figure out how to completely tare it apart(and put it back together) to clean the inside that is a good idea. If you don't have the right tools or you are in doubt about getting back together leave it together and just lightly spray some good gun oil in the action. If there is any rust a light rubbing with 0000 steel wool and light oil works well.